Members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Congress have thrown their full weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football, describing the initiative as necessary to reposition the game for sustainable growth.
The NFF Congress members, who met at Reno Hotel, Katampe, Abuja, today, Friday, August 28, 2026, welcomed the President’s reform directive and pledged to support and align with reforms that may emerge from the process.
The Congress also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for what it described as his unprecedented support and funding for Nigerian football, noting that his commitment to the growth of football and sports was deeply appreciated.
According to the Congress, Nigerian football requires an urgent reform and a “hard reset” to address challenges relating to governance, transparency, accountability, stakeholder representation and domestic competitions.
It said the reforms were essential to place Nigerian football on a stronger footing and ensure sustainable success both on and off the pitch.
Following the meeting, a delegation drawn from different zones and key football constituencies, including players, coaches, referees, the media and other stakeholders, visited the National Sports Commission (NSC) headquarters in Abuja, where they met with NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko.
The delegation received further briefing from Dikko on the vision and objectives of President Tinubu’s reform agenda for football and sports, including sports infrastructure development, funding, the harnessing of the potentials of the sports economy and the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE) framework.
Following the briefing, the Congress delegation pledged its unconditional alignment and support for the reform process.
The Congress said its members would now await the outcome of ongoing engagements involving the NSC, FIFA and CAF before supporting the activation and implementation of the reform process in accordance with the roadmap and framework agreed by the relevant parties.
The football stakeholders further declared that football remains a “prime national asset” and must align with the President’s wider reform agenda.
They urged all stakeholders to embrace the anticipated changes, warning that personal interests, fears or concerns about taking what they described as “the road less travelled” should not be allowed to stand in the way of Nigerian football’s progress.
The NFF Congress reaffirmed its readiness to play a leading role in restoring confidence and stability in Nigerian football while working towards lasting success in line with the objectives of President Tinubu’s reform directive.
